Pro-Russian protesters hold a banner (C) reading "Donetsk region with Russia" and a placard reading "South-east against fascism!" during a rally in the industrial Ukrainian city of Donetsk on March 1, 2014. (AFP Photo/Alexander Khudoteply)

Thousands of pro-Russian demonstrators across eastern Ukraine and Crimea are protesting against the new government, with administration buildings being seized in several cities. Gunshots have been reported as anti- and pro-Maidan protesters clash.

Protesters in Kharkov and Donetsk stormed local government
offices and removed Ukrainian flags, replacing them with the
Russian tricolor on Saturday.

Between 7,000 to 10,000 demonstrators gathered in the center of
Donetsk, a large industrial city in eastern
Ukraine. Reportedly, protesters seized the regional
administration building. While a group of demonstrators were
storming the building from the central entrance, a crowd in Lenin
Square in front of it kept chanting “Russia!”

The participants of the rally were demanding to hold a referendum
on the future of the region, and particularly, on the status of
Russian language.

Later in the day, Donetsk City Council held an extraordinary
session and approved an idea of holding a referendum on the
future fate of the Donetsk region. The council also supported the
initiative on setting up municipal militia squads to protect
citizens from possible aggression by radical nationalists,
reported Itar-Tass. Additionally, authorities decided to
introduce Russian as a second official language in the region.

The City Council refused to recognize the legitimacy of the
government in Kiev and declared itself the only legitimate body
in the city, according to ZN.UA.

The decisions were read out to the crowd of demonstrators, who
praised the move.

Earlier, according to a local news portal, a scuffle occurred
between Party of Regions supporters and the so-called Volunteers’
Crops commanded by activist Pavel Gubarev, who was spontaneously
proclaimed “regional governor.” Addressing the crowd, Gubarev
said the authorities in Kiev were illegitimate and called for
establishing popular rule. He then urged demonstrators to set up
a peaceful protest camp in front of the regional government’s
office.

In Kharkov, the largest city in eastern Ukraine,
pro-Russian protesters managed to break through the cordon of
Maidan supporters and captured the government building. The
storming was accompanied by clashes and shooting, RBC daily
reported.

One of the demonstrators got on to the roof of the administration
building, waving the Russian flag. Meanwhile, pro-Maidan
activists, who barricaded themselves inside one of the offices,
are hanging a white flag out of the window. Police were
accompanying injured supporters of the new government out of the
building to ambulances, Unian agency reports.

Activists from Right Sector radical group, who were inside the
building, “were throwing explosives, perhaps even grenades,
into public transport,” Kharkov Mayor Kernes told
journalists. “They also opened fire at protesters,” he
added and showed a cartridge for a Kalashnikov assault-rifle
which was found inside the building. According to the mayor,
“120 cocktail bombs, two mines and drugs” were
discovered at the site.

In the Crimean capital of Simferopol,
around 6,000 people marched, chanting “Russia!” and “No to
Fascism!” and carrying a huge Russian flag.

Thousands were also demonstrating with Russian and Soviet flags
in Odessa, the third-largest city in the
country. According to police, around 5,000 people took part in
the gathering, while organizers insist there were up to 20,000.

Protests were also held in Lugansk, Melitopol, Yevpatoria, Kerch
and Mariupol.

Crimeans began protesting after the new self-proclaimed
government in Kiev introduced a law abolishing the use of other
languages for official documents in Ukraine. More than half the
Crimean population are Russian and use only this language for
their communication. The residents have announced they are going
to hold a referendum on March 30 to determine the fate of the
Ukrainian autonomous region.